Browse
Log in / Register
Share
SEPANG, Malaysia — Oct. 3, 2026 — Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari a confident final tune-up for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, completing a smooth and disciplined practice session at the Sepang International Circuit. With the race itself making history 24 hours later as the first Bahrain round ever staged outside Bahrain, the Monegasque driver used the hour to fine-tune a race car that looked increasingly settled on the resurfaced Malaysian track.
The final free practice began at 15:00 local time, when track temperatures were at their weekend peak. Leclerc was one of the last drivers to leave the garage, and his opening installation lap was followed by an immediate return to the pits. Once the engineers made a small adjustment to the front flap, he set out on a medium-tire stint that lasted nine laps—an obvious attempt to break in the surface and evaluate the thermal behavior of the Pirelli compound.
A timing comparison with teammate Carlos Sainz, who spent most of the session on the hard compound, suggested Ferrari had split programs. Leclerc appeared to be focused on race-distance consistency, while Sainz worked on durability over high-fuel runs. The team’s final practice telemetry showed minimal graining and stable brake temperatures, which will be critical on a circuit where heavy braking into Turn 1 consistently tests the front-left machinery.
Sunday’s race was originally planned for the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, but an extensive upgrade project, along with logistics tied to the region’s delayed port expansion, forced a change of venue. In an unprecedented arrangement, Formula 1 management approved Sepang as the replacement in July, guaranteeing that the “Bahrain Grand Prix” would retain its title but take place in Malaysia.
The switch quickly gained support from drivers. Sepang’s sweeping turns, wide braking zones and crown-shaped corners give it a unique rhythm, and its hot, humid climate preserves many of the challenges common to Sakhir. For the Malaysian promoter, the event is a test case for the nation’s possible return to the calendar on a permanent basis. Ticket demand reflected that interest, with all main grandstands sold out within days of the announcement.
Sepang carries its own history. From 1999 to 2017, this circuit hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix, producing classic duels and unpredictable races. The current paddock includes mechanics and engineers who remember the old-tire characteristics and the notorious heat that once made it a venue where even the fittest drivers struggled. The return after nine years has brought a wave of nostalgia, and it also gives younger drivers their first taste of a venue that many have only ever seen in archived footage.
Sepang was resurfaced earlier this year, and the effect is visible in the lap times and in the way cars slide. New track surfaces typically have higher initial grip, but they also increase the graining of the soft tire. That precisely matched what happened in Saturday’s early runs, as several drivers struggled with low-speed understeer and then experienced a rapid drop off in front tire performance.
Pirelli’s data, which was shared with teams during the morning briefing, indicated that this resurfaced layout offers a more consistent grip level than the old asphalt but still requires the same careful energy management. The tire supplier’s simulations pointed toward a one-stop race being possible for some teams, but the high ambient temperatures—expected to remain near 34°C on Sunday—could push the race into two stops.
Leclerc’s on-track lap count reached 27 by the end of the session. He used the final ten minutes for a low-fuel qualifying simulation on soft tires, but the lap times were not officially published. Track-side observers, however, noted that his car was stable through the fast Turn 5 kink and that his sector one, which contains the main straight and the high-speed Turn 2 complex, was among the strongest of the afternoon.
Ferrari’s newly specified rear wing, designed to reduce drag on Sepang’s long straights, was fitted to both cars and appeared to deliver the expected straight-line gain. The team brought no mechanical updates for the weekend, a sign that designers are confident about the current package. The SF-26 is said to be strong in low-downforce configurations, and the flowing nature of the circuit should play into that strength.
McLaren and Red Bull were the only teams to attempt separate back-to-back tests of upgraded components. McLaren evaluated two versions of its floor, alternating them during the first half of the session, while Red Bull ran its revised rear suspension through a series of long stints. The championship picture remains open, and every strategic decision could be amplified by the unknown of racing on a circuit that has not hosted a grand prix for nearly a decade.
Majority opinion in the paddock is that the medium tire will be the favored compound for the opening laps. With the soft tire degrading faster than usual due to the heat, a one-stop that begins with mediums and ends with hards looks attractive. A two-stop alternative could become the default if the safety car appears early, but the wide asphalt runoff areas at Sepang make full-course cautions less likely unless mechanical failures trigger incidents.
A senior race engineer from a midfield team told reporters on Saturday that the most significant variable was not the track layout but the combination of high track temperature and the new surface. "The tire operating window is narrow here because the heat increases the rolling resistance and the surface works the tire differently than what the models predicted," the engineer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We have seen some teams complain about hesitation on entry, but the car that can preserve the front tire for ten laps will determine the race."
The engineer’s observation was reflected in the practice session’s lap times, which were closer than expected between the top five teams. Neither Mercedes nor Aston Martin showed their true pace, but both looked competent over the longer runs. What was missing was the kind of performance drop-off seen at other circuits, suggesting a balanced performance from the new-generation machinery.
All evidence points to a close, strategic fight. Forecasts call for dry weather throughout the day, so the race should be run under clean and constantly hot conditions. Leclerc will enter the afternoon with few unknowns, having completed his intended testing program and gathered clear data on tire degradation and brake wear.
The Saturday crowd, estimated at nearly 90,000, created a festival atmosphere. Fans camped along the main straight and waved flags in the afternoon heat, emboldened by the news that a full Malaysian Grand Prix might be restored for 2028. Whether the moment is a one-off or a stepping stone, the energy is unmistakable.
The 57-lap contest will get underway at 17:00, a slot that still means near-peak track temperature. For Ferrari, Saturday’s work was about building a foundation. For Formula 1, this weekend is about proving that contingency plans can become quality events. Either way, the image of a Gulf state’s race badge on Sepang’s grandstand is a moment nobody expected to see.
